Understanding Our Story

Understanding Our Story presents a concise introduction to the original, transformative thinking of Adrian van Kaam, CSSp, PhD (1920-2007). While many books are available on ""spiritual formation"" and ""Christian disciplines,"" no other author of our time has offered such a holistic and comprehensive explanation of Christian formation and its relationship to the human spirituality of all persons. Understanding our Story culls the most seminal ideas and vocabulary from van Kaam's eleven volumes on formation science, formation anthropology, and formation theology, and provides examples of his theoretical-practical research drawn from everyday life, Scripture, Christian writers, and van Kaam's life story itself. In doing so, it makes his extensive work available to scholars in the field of spiritual formation, and gives all readers the opportunity to utilize his insightful thinking to more fully understand the myriad ways in which God reforms and transforms lives into the image of Christ. In the pluritraditional world in which we live, where so many faith and formation traditions demand our attention, van Kaam's formative spirituality provides a means of respectful dialogue with formationally relevant truths from others and of wise appraisal of ideas that are (and are not) conducive to, and compatible with, the Christian revelation. ""Letterman and Muto brilliantly expose the depth, beauty, and applicability of van Kaam's approach to formative spirituality. This is a must-read for seminarians, spiritual directors, and all who wish to grasp what it means to become truly human."" --Douglas R. Cullum, PhD, Vice President and Dean, Northeastern Seminary, Rochester, NY ""This introduction to Adrian van Kaam makes accessible to a broader public an important Christian contribution to holistic anthropology and formative spirituality. Marked by clear exposition, Letterman and Muto's analysis of van Kaam's multidimensional and dynamic view of the person not only has implications for counseling and spiritual direction, but encouraged me to reflect on the course of my own life. A book to be studied and savored."" --J. Richard Middleton, Northeastern Seminary, Rochester, NY ""What an awesome task accomplished by Letterman and Muto. I am honored and excited to endorse this book, so welcome and needed in order to share the depth and breadth of van Kaam's body of work "" --Sharon Richardt, DC, BSNsg, MA, PhD ""This book is a gift to readers willing to engage their intellect to grasp this comprehensive model, abandon themselves to the mystery of God's direct formative touch, and radiate God's care and concern to others. . . . I highly recommend this book and I consider it required reading for anyone engaged in the integration of Christianity and psychology or a ministry of spiritual formation."" --William G. Roth, ThM, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist; Loma Linda University School of Medicine Rebecca Letterman, PhD, is Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York, and is a frequent retreat leader for churches and various organizations in the Upstate New York region. Susan Muto, PhD, is Executive Director and Dean of the Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is an internationally acclaimed speaker, teacher, retreat leader, and author of numerous articles and books on formative spirituality.